Best 5 Viva Health Tonic Recipes

MUSSEL CHOWDER

Steps:

• Place 1 cup of wine, the water and the lemon juice in a large pot and bring to a boil. Lower heat, add the mussels, cover and steam, shaking the pot from time to time, until the mussels open, about 7 minutes. Set aside until cool enough to handle. Pull the mussels from the shells and refrigerate. Reserve the broth.
• Melt the butter in a large, wide pot over medium heat. Add the leeks and cook until wilted, about 5 minutes. Add the carrots and potatoes and cook for 4 minutes longer. Add the mussel broth and the remaining wine and simmer for 15 minutes.
• Turn the heat to low and stir in the milk and cream. With the liquid barely at a simmer, cook for 30 minutes. Stir in the saffron and cook for 5 minutes longer. Add the mussels, salt and pepper and cook just until the mussels are warmed. Ladle into bowls and garnish with the basil. Serve immediately.

WOLFGANG PUCK'S PIZZAS WITH SMOKED SALMON AND CAVIAR

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees and put a pizza stone inside. Knead 2 teaspoons of the minced chives into the pizza dough. Roll or stretch the dough into four 8-inch circles. Place the pizzas on a lightly floured wooden peel or board. (Work in batches.) Brush the centers of the circles with olive oil to within 1 inch of the edges.
• Slide the pizzas onto the stone and bake 8 to 10 minutes, or until golden brown. Transfer to serving plates and spread with the sour cream or creme frache. Arrange the salmon slices over the top. Place a tablespoon of the golden caviar in the center of each pizza and spoon 1/4 of the black caviar into each center. Sprinkle the salmon with the remaining chives and serve.

MARIO'S EGGPLANT RAGU

Steps:

• Sprinkle the eggplant with 1 tablespoon salt and drain in a colander for 30 minutes. Rinse, pat dry and cut in 1/4-inch dice.
• In a large skillet, heat the oil over high heat. Add the eggplant, peppers and garlic. Cook, stirring frequently, for 10 minutes. Lower the heat to medium and cover. Cook for 7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the tomatoes and cook, uncovered, stirring, for 5 minutes. Season with 1 tablespoon salt and pepper to taste. Stir in the basil and let sit for 5 minutes before serving with pasta or polenta.

PARSLEY SOUP

Steps:

• Soften the onion, garlic, coriander, chili pepper and ginger root in the butter over medium heat for 3 minutes. Add the zucchini and cook for 1 minute. Add 4 bunches of the parsley, stems intact, and toss to wilt, about 2 minutes.
• Add the chicken broth and simmer for 40 minutes. Add the milk, salt and black pepper and simmer for 5 minutes more. Pass this mixture first through a food processor to make a paste, and then through a food mill, to remove the fibrous parts of the parsley stems. Cool. Stir in the buttermilk, bread crumbs and all but one tablespoon of the almonds and adjust seasoning.
• Pick the leaves from the remaining bunch of parsley and mince them well. Add to the soup. Serve the soup hot or cold, garnished with the parsley zest (recipe below) and, if you desire, a splash of parsley oil.

BARBECUED CHOPPED CHICKEN

Steps:

• To prepare the sauce, melt the butter with the oil in a straight-side skillet over medium heat. Add onions and cook until lightly browned. Stir in remaining ingredients, including lemon rinds, and simmer 20 minutes. Remove from heat and discard rinds. For a very smooth sauce, puree in blender or food processor.
• Prepare grill.
• In a large bowl combine chicken and 1 quart of the barbecue sauce. Rub sauce all over chicken, coating well.
• Grill 15 minutes on each side. Remove to a platter and set aside until cool enough to handle. Pull chicken from bones in bite-size pieces. Discard bones. (Skin may be saved if you want a very rich sauce. Set it aside.)
• In a food processor or blender, puree the onion. (If you want to use the chicken skin, puree with the onion.) Warm a large straight-side skillet over medium heat, add the oil, and when hot, add the onion. Cook, stirring frequently, until translucent. Add vinegar, salt, pepper, chili powder and the remaining 1 1/2 quarts of barbecue sauce. Stir well; add the cooked chicken and simmer on low heat 30 minutes.